Mail depot will shut this week

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STAFF at Royal Mail's Reading centre are in limbo over their move to the new site at Gillette Way.

The move is set for this weekend, the Midweek can reveal - but there are union concerns over whether the new Whitley Wood site will be ready in time.

Royal Mail moved its distribution centre to a state-of-the-art facility in Swindon six months ago leaving just deliveries and collection at the Caversham Road Mail Centre.

These too are now due to be moved, but Ian Warrick, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) health and safety representative at the mail centre, said: "We've been given no definite date.

"To my knowledge, the risk assessment hasn't been done so I don't know how they can move in to Gillette Way. The main problem is externally in the yard, there's quite a lot of work still to be done."

Royal Mail bosses say the Caversham Road site will close once deliveries are completed on Saturday, 20 years after it opened.

Part of the site is likely to eventually be redeveloped as part of the neighbouring Reading Station upgrade, after Network Rail's acquisition of land there.

Royal Mail spokesman Richard Hall confirmed the new unit at Gillette Way, which will deliver to the RG1, 2 and 4 postcode areas, will be operational from Monday and said all delivery and collection staff would relocate from then.

Mr Hall said: "We have kept staff at the site fully informed of developments with our plans.

"There are no changes to employees' duties as a result and no job losses.

"Any staff incurring additional travel costs as a result of the move will be reimbursed in line with business policy. Any change to customers' deliveries will be minimal and a communication will be sent to them next week giving full details of the move and the new location should they need to visit the delivery office.

"Any customers who cannot get to Gillette Way, who may need to collect items we have previously attempted to deliver, can arrange for a delivery on another date or to an alternative address in the area without charge.

"For a nominal fee customers can arrange to have items left at a local Post Office for collection at their convenience."